The (false) headline is that these are 6S phones in a smaller design without 3D touch for $399. The truth is that you're sacrificing way more than just screen size and 3D touch:
-Screen - 800:1 contrast ratio is significantly lower; doesn't use the photo alignment tech.
-No word on the type of cover glass so it is likely not double ionized like in the 6S.
-Probably not 7000 series aluminum.
-TouchID - uses 1st generation touchID which isn't as fast as the 2nd gen unit on the 6S.
-No Barometer.
-Doesn't do HDR video, front camera is 6 level and not the 5Mpix in the 6S.
-Doesn't use LTE Advanced but instead regular LTE like the 6.
The one saving grace is that they made it thick enough to not have a camera bump. Almost makes all those other sacrifices worth it.
2) Today it is actually more possible to live with a 16 GB device than it ever was before. Not the other way around.
Except that iOS is getting larger and apps are getting larger and taking videos, as opposed to photos, is more popular. 16GB of storage on an iOS is certainly doable depending on the user, but it is not getting any easier.
Plus it makes it more difficult for less sophisticated users to use their phone because managing space, both local and moving things in and out of the cloud, can get a bit complex. iCloud being garbage doesn't help in this regard.
Skimpy amount of disk space on a cheap android device is par for the course. An an Apple device it is an embarrassment but just proves that Apple sees their customer as cash machines and doesn't really care about the user experience like their marketing tries to suggest.
Really, compared to an iPhone 6s, the only thing missing from the iPhone
SE (aside from a larger display) is pressure sensing 3D Touch.
Pretty sure I know what one cardinal feature will be in next year's SE+.....
PS: the continuing 16/64 GB shuffle really makes me think less of the company. Such a naked tactic that leaves most budget buyers with a sub-par owning experience, or simply pads Apple's margins for those that bump up. Not a customer-centric way of doing biz.
I've had plenty of 16 GB iPhones. Everything is streamed today and as long as you manage your photos with Photos or manually remove them, I haven't had a problem. I now have 128 GB which really just lets me get lazy. It all comes down to your budget vs needs.
How much bigger is the OS? How much bigger is the average app? My son has a 16GB iPad mini, he has no photos on the device, doesn't iMessage with any one , and has only a handful of apps, and he's constantly running out of space.
Why did you buy/allow him to buy such a crippled device when you clearly know better??
You probably want to see what's using the storage and manage that a little bit better. Could be lots of attachments in iMessage or Mail that you should delete or not store on the device. I build an app that is basically desktop software and its 50 MB.
I think this phone is one hell of a deal, regardless of storage capacity. I can easily see this phone selling like hotcakes (does anyone say that anymore?). I think this was a great move by Apple.
Apple wont go through all that trouble and money for a phone thats going to sell for $0 on contract.
Is Sog ever right on anything?
He was right on 6+. I admit that I wouldn't believe any new release of 4" regardless new or old chassis. But when I saw the refreshed iPod Touch last year with new chip, I thought everything was possible. One thing I didn't believe that the 4" in new chassis would be priced at below $550. I thought they would keep 5S as is at $450 and release new iPhone 6, 4" at $550. Still, we don't know what Apple think. We just speculate things based on leaked information combined with our own analyses (good and bad)...
Except that iOS is getting larger and apps are getting larger and taking videos, as opposed to photos, is more popular. 16GB of storage on an iOS is certainly doable depending on the user, but it is not getting any easier.
Plus it makes it more difficult for less sophisticated users to use their phone because managing space, both local and moving things in and out of the cloud, can get a bit complex. iCloud being garbage doesn't help in this regard.
Skimpy amount of disk space on a cheap android device is par for the course. An an Apple device it is an embarrassment but just proves that Apple sees their customer as cash machines and doesn't really care about the user experience like their marketing tries to suggest.
-kp
Poor baby. Big bad Apple taking advantage of poor little consumer. What will all those millions of satisfied customers ever do? Maybe you should go buy a Samsung so you won't feel embarrassed anymore and can sleep at night. Fit right in with those babies at MacRumors.
Very interesting. Love the 5/5s design & while it doesn't have all the kickass 6/6s stuff, it's got quite a bit going for it at the price. Since the wife's 5 got stolen a couple weeks ago, I may wind up getting one of these and giving her this 5 so we can retire the 4… again.
Apple's sells TENS of MILLIONS of 16GB phones a year.
Its time for you to get out of your own 'world' and realize other people are perfectly fine with 16 GB.
Most people buy the 16gb because it's the cheapest and they don't know any better.
Unless you use very few apps and rarely take photos it is not enough.
I accept that some people are able to get away with just 16gb.
However most phone manufactures, especially the flagship devices moved away from 16gb a long time ago.
16gb back in 2010 made sense, it does not make sense now, especially when you plan to keep the device for 3 or more years.
You're wrong.
1) A tremendous swath of users don't know or care how much storage their device has. 2) Today it is actually more possible to live with a 16 GB device than it ever was before. Not the other way around. Two of the biggest culprits of storage space: iMessages, and Photo library have had recent innovations that prevent them from taking up all of your storage. iMessage can now auto-delete old messages, and iCloud Photo Library + Optimize iPhone Storage allows you to take as much Photo and Video as you like, while constantly reducing the amount of actual local storage.
So, the argument that it "made sense" back in 2010 when none of these features existed is completely wrong.
While many don't care a whole hell of a lot more do care. As to storage requirements that should be up to the user to decide what is acceptable. I personally can't see buying a 16 GB device at all anymore because the apps I use require lots of storage space.
Apple's sells TENS of MILLIONS of 16GB phones a year.
Its time for you to get out of your own 'world' and realize other people are perfectly fine with 16 GB.
Most people buy the 16gb because it's the cheapest and they don't know any better.
Unless you use very few apps and rarely take photos it is not enough.
I accept that some people are able to get away with just 16gb.
However most phone manufactures, especially the flagship devices moved away from 16gb a long time ago.
16gb back in 2010 made sense, it does not make sense now, especially when you plan to keep the device for 3 or more years.
You're wrong.
1) A tremendous swath of users don't know or care how much storage their device has. 2) Today it is actually more possible to live with a 16 GB device than it ever was before. Not the other way around. Two of the biggest culprits of storage space: iMessages, and Photo library have had recent innovations that prevent them from taking up all of your storage. iMessage can now auto-delete old messages, and iCloud Photo Library + Optimize iPhone Storage allows you to take as much Photo and Video as you like, while constantly reducing the amount of actual local storage.
So, the argument that it "made sense" back in 2010 when none of these features existed is completely wrong.
While many don't care a whole hell of a lot more do care. As to storage requirements that should be up to the user to decide what is acceptable. I personally can't see buying a 16 GB device at all anymore because the apps I use require lots of storage space.
Comments
http://forums.appleinsider.com/discussion/comment/2714040/#Comment_2714040
Just sayin' . . . I was right for once lol
Apple wont go through all that trouble and money for a phone thats going to sell for $0 on contract.
Is Sog ever right on anything?
Plus it makes it more difficult for less sophisticated users to use their phone because managing space, both local and moving things in and out of the cloud, can get a bit complex. iCloud being garbage doesn't help in this regard.
Skimpy amount of disk space on a cheap android device is par for the course. An an Apple device it is an embarrassment but just proves that Apple sees their customer as cash machines and doesn't really care about the user experience like their marketing tries to suggest.
-kp
He was right on 6+.
I admit that I wouldn't believe any new release of 4" regardless new or old chassis. But when I saw the refreshed iPod Touch last year with new chip, I thought everything was possible. One thing I didn't believe that the 4" in new chassis would be priced at below $550. I thought they would keep 5S as is at $450 and release new iPhone 6, 4" at $550. Still, we don't know what Apple think. We just speculate things based on leaked information combined with our own analyses (good and bad)...
Then I got banned from MacRumors. And Neowin.
Maybe next year it will get the plastic body of the 5C...
Now waiting for the Mini to get quad speakers and Pencil support!